Victoria Crown Pigeon

[albert w]

I think the Murray McMurray hatchery had them at one time. May still. They're beautiful birds. Good luck!

 

[jak2002003]

I used to work in a zoo where we had several of them. They are very beautiful, but have to say rather boring. They mostly like to just stand about doing nothing.

Also you could not keep them with chickens. They would catch diseases off the hens and also be very stressed will all the activity going on around them. They are territorial and need to be the only 'ground bird' in the enclosure.

They can not be kept outdoors without access to a heated and lighted large indoor aviary in winter.

 

[sfbra2000]

I am a backyard Breeder of American Fantails and a relatively new breed, The Rock Dove. A Homer based breed with Birds of Color mixed in occasionally ( Beautiful ). Pigeons have always been a part of my life. Growing up in Brooklyn New York as a Youngster My Dad was kind enough to build a Huge Loft on the roof of our house. As did every other Fancier in the Neighborhood.
At First I thought the Common Homing Pigeon was the Best of them all. We would take them 50 - 75 - sometimes 100 Miles from home & let them fly. Most of them beat us home. Then we got into Rollers & Tumblers, They were the New Favorite. Then Dad introduced me to the money makers... He would fly only the hens that had youngsters still in the nest, And we sat back and watched them lure all of the neighborhood competitors onto our roof & into the screen coop. Later that day the owners would come with pockets full of money asking for their birds back. And Pop collected, shook hands, laughed & handed me a pocket full of dollar bills to do as I saw fit.
I went to the local " PIGEON SHOP - S " and bought the Youngest, Healthiest, Prettiest Hens they had and did as my Dad had taught me. Once a mate was found, the fun began. And it was fun. We never asked for a **** load of money for their birds BUT, My Dad never went to them to buy a single bird back. You see, Once they follow that hen there...They continuously look for her every time they were sent up to fly. The younger kids never caught on. Not till I got older did I see my Dad's reasoning. I couldn't see surrendering a great Bird/Birds for just a few dollars. It's amazing the lessons that are taught without a single word spoken.
So now here I am some 35 / 40 years later breeding and Flying some beauties without a competitor in sight, Except for the Hawks. There is no lesson ever learned or forgotten to defend them except for the Pigeons natural instinct itself.
The Pics posted here are of just a few of the Current Flock I caught out in the screen coop this morning.
Enjoy & Comment all you wish.
The pic of the 4 Birds together are my " Rock Doves ". Hybrid Homers.
The Larger Pic with the one Bird is a young Male Rock Dove that is Now a supreme Mate to 3 Hens.
FOOTNOTE: THE SINGLE TRI-COLOR ROCK-DOVE... He is also as tame as any Parrot I have ever known or owned. He walks the Floors in the house with the BullDogs & Cats we own. HE WILL SIT ON MY SHOULDER AS I WALK THROUGH THE LOFT FEEDING THE FLOCK. THEY DIVE IN, HE IS CONTENT ON MY SHOULDER. HE WAS NOT RAISED ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER PIGEON I EVER OWNED. JUST BRAGGIN' ON " SPLASH AS WE CALL HIM.
* The white hen sittin' on two eggs is one of the premium reasons for the success of my continuing the breed.
I did not originate it. I fell in love with the Breed & the Mixture of the breed and the constant temperment of all of the TRI - COLORED " Rock Doves. Google them see for yourself what I've left out.
HAPPY FLYING...:

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[missy55]

I too am a backyard breeder of American Fantails. My father raised different breeds and used to take me along whenever he bought or swapped.I finally moved to an area where I have plenty of room to have chickens,pigeons and even turkeys, that was about 10 years ago and have been raising them ever since.The only problem is that I live in Maine and pigeon fanciers are very rare around here.As far as swapping or selling I haven't had a lot of luck,so I try to keep the pigeons from multiplying by using fake eggs,but I usually let them hatch a few,because that's what it's all about,the fun of watching the little ones grow ! It's nice to know that others enjoy the same hobby!

 

[muscovy man14]

I wonder if you can keep them with ornamental ducks?

 

[TheChickGuy]

Woah woah woah, slow your role buddy. Pigeons are VERY hard to raise and you should start with a basic breed before getting one of the most rare breeds in the world. I don’t care how much you like it, you are just simply NOT ready to raise Victoria crowns if you haven’t raised pigeons before. Also Victoria crowns need a very spacious aviary ( 20x10 ) by themselves.